Consumer News

TOPEKA – (May 26, 2016) – A national billing services company is required to make reforms to its business practices under the terms of a settlement reached this week, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.

Billing Services Group North America, Inc., based in San Antonio, agreed to cease its practice of adding unauthorized charges to consumers’ home telephone bills – commonly known as “cramming.”

The attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division led a multi-state investigation into Billing Services Group’s business practices. The company was alleged to have billed third-party services to Kansas consumers’ landline telephone bills when the consumer had not authorized or accepted the charges. The company did not admit any wrongdoing.

“Consumers should only be charged for services they expressly authorized, no matter whether that purchase is made in cash, by credit card or by a charge on their phone bills,” Schmidt said. “This company has agreed to cease this practice – making sure consumers’ rights are protected.”

The Federal Trade Commission reached a similar settlement with the company earlier this month.

More information on staying safe from rip-offs is available on the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org.